Relief in parts of W.A. and eastern Australia

The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that rainfall
during January eased the situation with respect to deficits
across the southern inland of Western Australia. There was
little change in southeast Queensland and northeast NSW as
at the end of January, but heavy rain in early February has
either eliminated or significantly eased the situation there
as well.

10-month rainfall deficiencies

For the ten months from April to January, rainfall deficiencies
persisted in southern W.A. between Albany and Esperance, near
Kalgoorlie, as well as on parts of the coast between Perth and
Carnarvon. January
rainfall was sufficient to remove deficits near Exmouth in the north,
and across much of the region in a broad sweep from Carnarvon to
Kalgoorlie.

12-month rainfall deficiencies

The 12 months from February 2000 to January 2001 have been
deficient in rainfall over southeast Queensland and the far northeast
corner of NSW. At the end of January the affected region covered
parts of the Darling Downs in Queensland, together with some of the
Northern Tablelands and Northern Rivers districts in NSW. However, very heavy
rain at the start of February along the coast and adjacent mountain
ranges has either eliminated deficiencies or significantly eased the
situation.